Letters to the Editor | Nov. 28, 2022

At a time when Jews are being attacked, physically assaulted, bullied on school buses, harassed online, and threatened, our society is moving distressingly closer to the normalization of one of the oldest forms of hate. When celebrities and populists use their platform to push an agenda that targets a group as “the other,” many of their followers, unfortunately, begin to accept this propaganda and use it against Jewish people. The Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia continues to receive regular and disturbing reports about the rise of these threats. We must come to understand — all of us — that antisemitism is real. It is time for all people of goodwill to reject this hatred and voice their opposition to it. History has taught us that what starts with the hatred of Jews, never ends there.

Michael Balaban, president and CEO, Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia

The nation’s newspapers are full of analysis of the Nov. 8 midterm elections, which were a disappointment to Republicans from coast to coast. Here in South Jersey, our Election Day went rather differently, and there’s a reason why: We are running as conservatives, and unapologetically so. And we know that you must give voters an alternative that speaks directly to their concerns.

On the same day that Republicans were getting their clocks cleaned in elections from New Hampshire to New Mexico, we flipped the Cumberland County board — something our party hasn’t done in a decade. I’ve been asked many times since Election Day how we did it. The answer is that we fought the battles on issues we believed were home turf, and we weren’t afraid to take on the fight.

Voters needed to know that under liberal policies, our quality of life had plummeted relative to other New Jersey communities. According to KidsCount.org, Cumberland County is last in the state in median income for families with children, and among the worst in unemployment and literacy rates.

This is completely unacceptable, yet there were some critics who advised us not to “talk about the negatives” in arguing for Republicans to be trusted with a chance to lead. But we ran as who we really are, not who pollsters told us we should be.

We are conservative Republicans. That’s who we are, and that’s how we should present ourselves to voters. And anyone who looks at South Jersey will see that it’s working.

Michael Testa Jr., New Jersey state senator, 1st District, chairman, Cumberland County Regular Republican Organization Inc.

People have been pointing out that two members of the LGBTQ community at Club Q in Colorado Springs, Colo., were able to do what 100 armed officers at a school in Uvalde, Texas, were unable to do: take down a heavily armed shooter. I propose that in the future, school security be turned over to the LGBTQ community. They will keep children safe. I suggest embedding them in schools with activities such as Drag Queen Story Time. Perhaps Philadelphia can send a couple of busloads of drag queens to Texas. The question is, can we spare them?

Pat Lasusky, Willingboro

The Associated Press story on the expected suffering this winter in Afghanistan was unsettling. In the article, the director of operations of the International Committee of the Red Cross said that sanctions have led to massive consequences, but the tone of the piece was as if nothing could be done to ease the suffering. The story should have pointed out that a great deal can be done, and the U.S. is in a position to do it. U.S. sanctions are the driving force behind Afghanistan’s economic meltdown. The U.S. has frozen more than $7 billion of the country’s assets, amounting to roughly 40% of Afghanistan’s economy. U.S.-led international restrictions on the country’s banking sector are driving mass starvation in Afghanistan. The U.S. must unfreeze the billions of dollars that belong to Afghanistan and stop other forms of sanctions against this sovereign nation.

Andrew Mills, Lower Gwynedd

Everyone around the world deserves to lead a life of dignity and opportunity. That’s why, as we mark World AIDS Day on Dec.1, I urge U.S. Sens. Bob Casey and Pat Toomey to ensure the United States can maintain its historic leadership in the global fight against AIDS by reauthorizing one of the most effective tools in our arsenal. In 20 years, the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) has helped save more than 20 million lives — an incredible achievement. But our fight to end AIDS is far from over. Today, 38.4 million people live with HIV — almost three times the population of Pennsylvania — and the virus infects someone new every 30 seconds.

Earlier this year, the U.S. showed strong support for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. Congress must keep the momentum going by reauthorizing PEPFAR next year. I hope U.S. Reps. Chrissy Houlahan and Mary Gay Scanlon can rely on the support of fellow lawmakers to enthusiastically continue America’s bipartisan commitment to fighting the global AIDS crisis.

Pastor Matt Staniz, St. Luke Lutheran Church, Devon

I grew up in Philadelphia, the child of immigrants who came to this country for a better life for their family. I am so grateful that they were offered the opportunities to thrive: work, access to education, and a sense of community. Now, the City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection is once again welcoming those who wish only a good life for their families. How sad that they are being sent here from a place whose governor doesn’t have the decency to communicate with and cooperate with the city to which he is busing these families. Thank you, Philadelphia, for your moral backbone and generosity in welcoming these immigrants. Displaced not only from their home countries but by a governor in our own.

Anne Hill, Gwynedd

Ruth’s Chris Steak House paid $45,500 for violating Philadelphia’s Fair Workweek law, but it seems committing the violation is well worth the punishment. Employers can violate the law and only pay a minimum of damages to those affected. This seems like an incentive to commit more violations: treat your employees unfairly where you can, and if you get caught and lose a two-plus-year court battle, you’ll have to pay a small penalty. I would posit that those affected suffered far more than the paltry penalties paid by the violators. Some employees may have had to leave their job, or continue in a stressful schedule under an oppressive employer. What a choice when you’re making ends meet. There should be more substantial penalties to dissuade employers from mistreating their workers.

Barry Beck, Turnersville

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